Hynes is out to beat Peter Keig's record of 7 days 10 hours 24 minutes and 27 seconds set in October 2001 but last night (Thursday) he was short tacking his fifty footer off Mew Island, still some 100 miles off the Dun Laoghaire finish line set up by the National Yacht Club, the keepers of the World speed sailing records in Ireland.
"I'm unsure if I'll make it to Dun Laoghaire in the next 24 or even 48 hours unless the wind picks up, he told the Irish Times, adding “if I'm not home by Sunday, I'll fire up the engine!"
Hynes must cross the line by 5.54pm tonight and was holding out for the chance of a light northerly wind to take him dow the east coast.
Staying with Irish sea sailing, there is still no accounting for the rudder failure that led to the sinking of Philip Watson's yacht, a Hanse 371, on May 25th near the South Rock light.
Dramatic new pictures of the sinking of the Howth Yacht Club 40-footer – taken by the crew of nearby yacht, ‘Quite Correct’, as the boat filled with water and sank in 40 minutes – are published, along with Watson's account of the drama, in next month's issue of ‘Afloat’ magazine out next week.
Attempts are underway to salvage the boat in 60 metres of water which may shed more light as to the reason for the rudder failure.
Today, with additional support from the East Border region Inter-Reg project, Dundalk Sailing Club kicks off its annual Oyster Pearl Regatta on Carlingford Lough. Feeder races have been held from six east coast ports and the Isle of Man for the three day event that begins today.
Further down the east coast, off Ireland’s eye, the Airtricity-sponsored British national Squib championships sails its final race today (Friday) but champions for the last four years have the title won again, this year with a race to spare.
Father and son duo Chris and Mark Hogan from South Caernarfonshire YC (SCYC) in North Wales sailing a 1969 built boat Ric O’Shea do not need to go afloat this morning.
Second, third and fourth places all hail from SCYC as well and are within one point of each other. Best of the of the Irish in the 82-boat fleet is Peter Wallace and Mark Wright from Royal North of Ireland YC in ninth place.
Abroad, four Irish Dragon crews are among a fleet of 55 starters enjoying fine sunshine but little else at La Trinite sur Mer, Brittany. After four days of the event only one race has been sailed due to a high pressure weather system that has produced little in the way of sea breezes.
John Lavery, Paul Maguire and Peter Bowring of the National Yacht Club are top Irish boat in sixth place overall, with Danish boats occupying the top three places. Three races have been scheduled for the French regatta today (Friday) that must end on Sunday.
A turnout of 35 Fireball dinghies raced last weekend in Galway and it was former Olympic 470 duo Tom Fitzpatrick and David McHugh back on the water together after a break of that showed the best pace to win the regional event in blustery conditions. Second overall was Howth club mates Neil Spain and Mathew Treadwell.
